Centre Launches JOSH Teams to Strengthen Youth-Led Campaign for TB Elimination

Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda said the initiative would mobilise 58,000 volunteers at the grassroots level and thanked the Sports Department and the Defence Ministry for supporting the programme.

“I want to express my heartfelt thanks to the Sports Department and the Defence Ministry, who turned this vision into reality. Today, the Joint Squad for Health (JOSH) Team has been established, and our 58,000 volunteers will go from village to village to work,” Nadda said.

He said the campaign should extend beyond government-led activities and involve communities and citizens in the effort to make India TB-free.

Nadda stressed that awareness and screening alone would not be sufficient and called for stronger efforts to ensure diagnosis and treatment, increase community participation and develop innovative approaches to TB elimination.

He also highlighted the need to identify people who may be living with TB without being aware of their condition, including those who do not display symptoms.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said a healthy population was essential to India's development and economic progress.

“As we are moving forward towards a prosperous India, it is not possible if we are not healthy. It is not possible to become developed if the people are not healthy,” she said.

Gupta said the JOSH Teams would combine the efforts of young volunteers, NCC cadets, public representatives and government officials in the campaign against TB.

She described health, youth and defence as a “Trishakti” working together as part of a national mission to eliminate the disease.

In the first phase, JOSH Teams will be deployed across 55 districts in 11 states, with a focus on youth-led community mobilisation and taking the TB Mukt Bharat message to people at the grassroots.

The teams will comprise Class-I officers, MY Bharat volunteers and NCC cadets, bringing together administrative leadership with the youth networks and community outreach capabilities of MY Bharat and the NCC.

The initial phase will focus on engagement at the block, ward and community levels. Volunteers will conduct outreach activities to spread information about TB symptoms, prevention, timely diagnosis and the importance of completing treatment.

The teams will also work to counter myths and misconceptions surrounding TB, reduce stigma associated with the disease and encourage wider participation in the national TB elimination campaign.